Composite outsole

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a composite outsole consisting of carbon fiber and titanium. In particular, the outsole comprises a carbon fiber portion and a titanium portion. The titanium portion is molded to the carbon fiber portion using adhesives and the like. The titanium portion provides increased strength and ductility to allow for additional features in the outsole, such as, for example, air flow vents that increase air circulation for breathability and moisture management as well as reduce drag.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Numerous cycling shoes exist on the market for cyclists of allabilities. FIG. 1 shows a conventional cycling shoe 100. Cycling shoe100 comprises an upper 102 coupled to an outsole 104. Outsole 104 andupper 102 are coupled or lasted using conventional techniques. Upper 102frequently has a tightening system 106, which is shown as a series ofstraps 106 or equivalent that extend from outsole 104 and anchor theoutsole 104 to the shoe 100. Straps 106 frequently are coupled afastening system 108. Fastening system 108 is used to tighten the shoeabout the foot of a cyclist. Fastening system 108 can be a series ofstraps having hook and pile (or hook and loop) material, or otherclosure systems, such as a canopy closure system described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/631,572, titled SHOE TIGHTENING SYSTEM,filed Jul. 30, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference. A fabric 110typically covers upper 102 and underlies fastening system 108. Fabric110 preferably is a breathable fabric, such as, a mesh, or open cellfoam fabric, but could be other types of breathable fabrics or mosituremanagement fabrics as are generally known in the art, such as, forexapmle, polyesters, nylons, blends, or the like. Upper 102 also has aheel 112. Heel 112 may be a wear resistant fabric, such as, leather orcanvas, but frequently is a molded plastic or other material as is knownin the art.

Outsole 104 comprises a heel portion 120, a forefoot portion 122, and atoe portion 124. Outsole 104 also has an upper surface 126 approximateupper 102 and a lower surface 128 opposite upper surface 126. As shownin FIG. 2, shoe 100 may have one or more studs 200 coupled to outsole104. Also, shoe 100 have have a pedal connect part 202, as is generallyknown in the art.

Conventionally, outsole 104 is an integral unit formed from carbonfiiber material. Instead of carbon fiber, some outsoles 104 are formedof high density, rigid plastics, such as, for example, ABS or PVC.Conventional carbon fiber outsoles have slots, holes, or otherconnection points to faciliate coupling studs 200 or cleats to outsole104.

While conventional outsoles 104 are function, they suffer manydrawbacks. Thus, it would be desirous to develop an improved outsole forathletic shoes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to composite outsole and, moreparticularly, to an athletic shoe outsole comprising a carbon portionand a titanium portion.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

To attain the advantages and in accordance with the present invention, ashoe with a composite outsole is provided. The composite outsolecomprises a carbon fiber portion and a titanium portion. The titaniumportion is molded to the carbon fiber portion using adhesives and thelike. The titanium portion provides increased strength and ductility toallow for additional features in the outsole, such as, for example, airflow vents that increase air circulation for breathability and moisturemanagement as well as reduce drag.

The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the presentinvention, and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using thesame numerical reference.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a conventional cycling shoe;

FIG. 2 is side elevation of the conventional cycling shoe shown in FIG.1 with studs;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a composite outsole consistent withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the composite outsole of FIG. 3consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the composite outsole of FIG. 3 consistentwith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side-by-side exploded view of the carbon fiber portion andthe titanium portion of the composite outsole of FIG. 3 consistent withan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an alternative carbon fiber portion of the composite outsoleconsistent with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-7.While the present invention is described with particular reference to anoutsole used with a cycling shoe, one of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize on reading the disclosure, that the composite outsole could beused with other shoes, such as, for example, track shoes, baseballshoes, football, shoes, soccer shoes, golf shoes, or the like. Theseexamples to other athletic shoes are exemplary and non-limiting.

Referring first to FIG. 3, outsole 300 is shown. Outsole 300 could becoupled to upper 102 in place of outsole 104, as shown in FIG. 1.Outsole 300 includes a carbon portion 302 and a titanium portion 304.Carbon portion 302 is typically molded carbon fiber, but could be othercarbon composites. Outsole 300 may have one or more studs 306 attached,generally to the carbon portion 302 using conventional techniques, suchas, for example, slots or holes in carbon portion 302. Studs 306 couldbe connected to carbon portion 302 in a manner similar to attachingtitanium portion 304 to carbon portion 302 as explained in more detailbelow as well. Outsole 300 can be contoured similar to a conventionaloutsole such that, carton portion 302 includes a carbon bottom 308 andan up-turned outer rim 310. Titanium portion 304 also has an outer wall312 extending below carbon bottom 308 to a Ti bottom 314.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a bottom plan view of outsole 300 is shown. Asbest seen in FIG. 4, Ti bottom 314 has a plurality of holes 402. Holes402 provide an airflow path to allow air circulation, which increasebreathability and reduce drag. While holes 402 can be placed anywhere onTi bottom 314, it is preferable to place at least one hole 402 in a toearea 404 and at least one hole 402 in a heel area 406. As can beappreciated, wall 312 and Ti bottom 314 define a generally open area orvolume 408. Area 408 is open to provide air flow, but may besubstantially filled in if desired. In other words area 408 only needsto provide an air flow path A (best seen in FIG. 5) from intakes toexhausts.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a top plan view of outsole 300 is provided. Asbest seen in FIG. 5, outsole 300 has one or more air flow paths as shownby arrow A. While arrows A show a possible air flow path, aircirculation in volume 408 would not be constrained to the particularpath shown, but suggest to typical fluid mechanics. Further, volume 408could be partially filled with channels left for airflow.

As shown, carbon bottom 308 has an inner edge 510 defining an opening512 into which titanium portion 304 fits. In particular, outer wall 312has a top edge 514 proximate inner edge 510. Tabs 502 extend radiallyoutward from top edge 514 over inner edge 510 and over a portion ofcarbon bottom 308. An adhesive layer 504 between tabs 502 and carbonbottom 308 couples titanium portion 304 to carbon portion 302. FIG. 6 isidentical to FIG. 6, but shows carbon portion 302 and titanium portion304 in side-by-side orientation for clarity.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative arrangement for carbon portion 302. Insteadof carbon bottom 308 having an inner edge 510 defining an opening 512,carbon bottom 308 may be substantially solid with a plurality of slots702. The plurality of slots 702 substantially align with tabs 502, suchthat tabs 502 coupled to titanium portion 304 extend through slots 702and extend over a portion of carbon bottom 308. Adhesive 504 would stillcouple titanium portion 304 to carbon portion 302. In this embodiment,tabs 502 could extend radially outward as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, orthey could extend radially inward, or a combination thereof.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various other changes in the form anddetails may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. An athletic shoe, comprising: an upper; a sole coupled to the upper;the sole comprising: a carbon portion; and a titanium portion coupled tothe carbon portion.
 2. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the carbonportion comprises molded carbon fiber.
 3. The athletic shoe of claim 1,further comprising at least one stud; and the at least one stud iscoupled to the carbon portion.
 4. The athletic shoe of claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one hole in the titanium portion.
 5. The athleticshoe of claim 4, wherein the at least one hole is a plurality of holes.6. The athletic shoe of claim 5, wherein at least one of the pluralityof holes resides in a toe section of the sole and wherein at least oneother of the plurality of holes resides in a heel section of the sole,such that the at least one hole in the toe section acts as an air intakeand the at least one other hole in the heel section acts as an airexhaust.
 7. The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the carbon portionfurther comprises: a carbon bottom; and an up turned outer rim.
 8. Theathletic shoe of claim 1, wherein the titanium portion furthercomprises: an outer wall; and a titanium bottom, wherein the outer walland titanium bottom define a volume.
 9. The athletic shoe of claim 8,wherein the volume defines at least one airflow path from a toe sectionto a heel section of the titanium portion.
 10. The athletic shoe ofclaim 9, wherein the volume is partially filled in.
 11. The athleticshoe of claim 7, wherein the carbon portion further comprises: an inneredge; and the inner edge defines opening.
 12. The athletic shoe of claim11, wherein the titanium portion further comprises: an outer wall; atitanium bottom; and the outer wall has a top edge, wherein the top edgeis proximate the inner edge.
 13. The athletic shoe of claim 12, whereinthe titanium portion further comprises: at least one tab; and the atleast one tab coupled to the top edge, wherein the at least one tabextends radially outward over the inner edge and the carbon bottom. 14.The athletic shoe of claim 13, wherein the titanium portion is coupledto the carbon portion by an adhesive residing substantially between theat least one tab and the carbon bottom.
 15. The athletic shoe of claim7, wherein the carbon portion further comprises at least one slot in thecarbon bottom.
 16. The athletic shoe of claim 15, wherein the titaniumportion further comprises: an outer wall; a titanium bottom; and theouter wall has a top edge, wherein the top edge is proximate the carbonbottom.
 17. The athletic shoe of claim 16, wherein the titanium portionfurther comprises at least one tab coupled to the top edge, and whereinthe at least one tab is substantially aligned with the at least one slotsuch that the at least one tab extends through the at least one slot anda portion of the carbon bottom.
 18. The athletic shoe of claim 17,wherein the at least one tab is adhered to the carbon bottom to couplethe carbon portion to the titanium portion.
 19. An outsole for a cyclingshoe, the cycling shoe including an upper having a toe section, aforefoot section, and a heel section, the outsole comprising: a carbonfiber portion; the carbon fiber portion comprising a carbon fiber bottomand an up turned outer rim; the carbon fiber bottom having an inner edgedefining an opening; a titanium portion; the titanium portion comprisinga titanium bottom and an outer wall; the outer wall having a top edgewith at least one tab coupled to the top edge; the at least one tabextends radially outward from the top edge, over the inner edge and overa portion of the carbon bottom; and a adhesive between the at least onetab and the portion of the carbon bottom couples the titanium portion tothe carbon fiber portion.
 20. The outsole of claim 19, furthercomprising: a plurality of studs coupled to the carbon fiber bottom. 21.The outsole of claim 19, further comprising: a plurality of studscoupled to the titanium bottom.
 22. The outsole of claim 21, furthercomprising: a plurality of studs coupled to the carbon fiber bottom. 23.The outsole of claim 19, further comprising: at least one hole in thetitanium bottom.
 24. The outsole of claim 23, wherein the at least onehole comprises a plurality of holes.